Notting Hill Carnival: the early years

Notting Hill Carnival: the early years

In January 1959, a ‘Caribbean Carnival’ took place in St Pancras town hall, London. It was the precursor to the Notting Hill carnival, which has taken place every August bank holiday in west London for the past 50 years. Here, we take a look at the carnival in its earlier years

On 30 January 1959, a ‘Caribbean Carnival’ was held at St Pancras Town Hall, north London, as a response to the depressing state of race relations. The event was organised by Trinidadian Claudia Jones, who went on to be described as ‘the mother of the Notting Hill carnival’.Photograph: Empics/PA

The first official carnival started in 1964 as a fairly low-key event, with just a few hundred people. By 1968, crowds had increased dramatically and people filled the streets of west London.Photograph: Charlie Phillips/Hulton/Getty